By Timothy Oyomare
A new powerful group has seized power in Libya on Wednesday night and have cancelled elections scheduled for December 24 this year. The whereabout of the President and head of bridgade and other council members unknown.
The group belonging to Al-Samud brigade have taken control of the headquarters of ministry of defense and the Presidential Council (PC), Tunisie Numerique reports citing local TV Al Ghad.
Abdel Basset Marwan, head of the brigade that controls security in the Libyan capital has been fired and arrested along with the President Mohamed Younis Ahmed Al-Menfi and other members of the council.
The move, reportedly came after Menfi, commander in Chief of armed forces replaced Marwan.
“Presidential elections will not be held in Libya and we will close all state institutions in Tripoli!” the brigade said in a statement.
The oil-rich African country is inching steadily towards Dec. 24 crucial presidential elections expected to endow the North African country with a central leader since 2011 after a NATO-led uprising ousted former strong leader Muammar Gaddafi.
Over 50 candidates including Gaddafi’s son, Saif al Islam, and rogue and retired General Khalifa Haftar who sways power over much of the country’s eastern region, have submitted their candidacies for the election.
Several voices within Libya and outside have called for the postponement of the polls citing security concerns and electoral frauds.
-Northafricapost